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User Reviews

I rented this actually, and I was a little disappointed because it was a short instead of a full movie, but it is awesome. It doesn't seem to be working, but in case it does later or someone is curious, here's my thoughts. It features near-light-speed travel, and if you've ever had problems understanding the theory of relativity, this may help. A girl is sent to fight an enemy in around a far away ...

I rented this actually, and I was a little disappointed because it was a short instead of a full movie, but it is awesome. It doesn't seem to be working, but in case it does later or someone is curious, here's my thoughts. It features near-light-speed travel, and if you've ever had problems understanding the theory of relativity, this may help. A girl is sent to fight an enemy in around a far away planet, while her friend stays on Earth. He receives messages from her as he grows older, but she has not aged. It really pulls at your heart.

Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide

The end implies that he will take to the skies after her, so they'd eventually catch up in age.

I couldn’t really get the story line much, it didn’t really explain much and I think it just points the the novel and manga for more information though I have no clue if they actually say more. It feels like a pilot to something that could have been rather then a real show. Sadly, it’s hard to get a real feel for this. It’s a lot about romance which doesn’t seem to work with mechas. There isn’t ...

I couldn’t really get the story line much, it didn’t really explain much and I think it just points the the novel and manga for more information though I have no clue if they actually say more. It feels like a pilot to something that could have been rather then a real show. Sadly, it’s hard to get a real feel for this. It’s a lot about romance which doesn’t seem to work with mechas. There isn’t much excitement om this because of how slow passed it is. For a show that is only 25 minutes long, the excitement only happens about 10 minutes in.

Mikako doesn’t seem like a good character to be piloting a mecha but then again, I think this is the part where they use Gundam logic. She crys a lot, whines a lot about how she wants to be with her friend, and all together just seems off a bit. Way to emotional for a battle I think and why they decided to have her pilot a mecha like that.

The artwork is a bit odd, looking sort of like sketches in some areas that have been filled in. Other areas, its high detailed. The characters are as angled as mecha’s, making them look more robotic. Most of the time, it feels like I’m watching pieces of a game since the characters don’t seem to move much. Most images though actually focus more on the scenery especially during the monolog in the beginning of Mikako and her friend. This show is much like 5 Centimeters per Second in background and amature in characters. Mikako also never changes her clothing. I don’t think a middle school uniform is good for fighting in a mecha. The 3D aspect is alright though I don’t feel it fits with the artwork.

The voices don’t even feel like they are trying in the dub, sounding like they are just reading lines. It doesn’t feel like they have any actual feeling what so ever for there lines. Mikako is a little better but still, she sounds like again, only reading. Now, the writing is actually reather poetic and gentle.

Member 1:
This show can be summarized as follows:
Boyfriend and girlfriend attempt to maintain a REALLY long distance relationship over phones archaic even by 2002 standards, considering that she's a mecha pilot on the other side of the solar system. And nothing else happens.

Member 2:
Why the hell is she still in her school girl uniform? In space of all places! From a artist point of view ...

Member 1:
This show can be summarized as follows:
Boyfriend and girlfriend attempt to maintain a REALLY long distance relationship over phones archaic even by 2002 standards, considering that she's a mecha pilot on the other side of the solar system. And nothing else happens.

Member 2:
Why the hell is she still in her school girl uniform? In space of all places! From a artist point of view I could tell this is done from flash....who does that? What is up with the faces? I mean everything else is done wonderfully, but they got lazy. SO, since the year is 2046 why does everyone have a 1990 Nokia brick!? What's next? The telegram? Why do I imagine the pony express being faster than the text messages she sent? Maybe her phone can be used as a last resort weapon, yeah let's say that. So it is true what they say, angst is the power of all Mecha.

Member 3:
Well now I am officially 3 times stupider than before. This was 25 min of my life I have lost forever, just like my old cell phone from 10 years ago. THANKS A LOT !!!!!!!!!!!

Vice President:
Huh? Oh, I wasn't watching it. I like K-On.
And Chocobos.
But I looked up for a brief second and saw the phone I used to play snake on years ago.

Member 4:
I liked this. Apparently needing to do laundry is a thing of the past, and this gave me such nostalgia for my old Nokia. I miss that thing, man! Plus, Pluto is a planet again, which makes life like 12 times better. So yeah, best show in the whole of infinity.

Member 5:
Well I just walked in the middle of the Anime, and I just think that eating my fries 8 minutes ago, and I'm so glad I have a flip phone with a slide-out keyboard for whenever I text.

Member 6:
No comment. (She seemed shocked and possibly needed medical attention. This started right after the first text was sent.)

Member 7:
And I thought the gas station sushi looked bad. Still not as bad as the bricks they dialed on.
"I just got your 3rd text message about the breakup, and I'm already on my second marriage. Here's a picture of my kids."

President:
Sigh. First of all, I routinely work with kindergartners who draw better animation than this. Some of them bring their parents' old phones with them, which seem to be newer than the ones in this show, which is supposes to be set in 2046. I guess the economy was so bad we never discovered the smartphone. Hey, maybe they'll discover the wheel next.
Let's talk about that storyline. Oy vey. That's all I have to say on that.
And that relationship. I'm sure in Japan it's still considered mentally unhealthy to obsess over a woman whose text messages won't reach you for the next eight years.
She doesn't age as fast as someone who didn't travel near-light-speed. Which means that in the end he's 24, and she's still 15. Guess what? That's statutory rape even in Japan.
All I can say through this is *scratches head* who supplied the LSD?

As a club:
We decided to give this show five stars. Because this is the first show so bad that we stopped the club just to write this review of it together. It's a show ripe for making fun of, and boy did we just make fun of it. By the way, we had to submit this in person because it would have taken 8 years for Crunchyroll to receive it if we texted it.

The pure, wondrous details offer an artistic backdrop for the eye as the mind grasps the highs and lows of an intriguing tale of the changes that occur as well as the friendships that endure through a lifetime.

Voices of a Distant Star (VOADS) is an excellent sci fi anime created almost single handedly by Makoto Shinai. It is concise, offers excellent visuals, utilizes interesting symbolism, and provides a good soundtrack that makes his simplified science fiction universe come to life.

Two Celestial LoversVOADS is the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi retold in a mecha ...

Voices of a Distant Star (VOADS) is an excellent sci fi anime created almost single handedly by Makoto Shinai. It is concise, offers excellent visuals, utilizes interesting symbolism, and provides a good soundtrack that makes his simplified science fiction universe come to life.

Two Celestial LoversVOADS is the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi retold in a mecha universe inspired by Joe Halderman's The Forever War (TFW). If you aren't familiar with the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi, it's the quintessential Japanese mythological tale of separated lovers. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanabata

In this case, Mikako fills the role of Orihime and is sent (likely conscripted by her gov't) far away from her lover Noboru (Hikiboshi) to fight the alien Tarsians. As in the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, a couple who can only meet once a year, they must wait extended intervals before they can communicate, as radio waves (stand in for the magpies...) take progressively longer to bridge the gap between the lovers. Since the magpies cannot bridge the gap between Orihime and Hikoboshi on rainy days, precipitation has a very important symbolism in the film. Look for it, as it is very relevant. (Honestly, I haven't played look for the rain since watching a Tarkovsky film.)

How Much Does This Take From American Sci Fi

The western influence in VOADS is very noticeable, as stories of similar separations have proliferated ever since the Twin Paradox (Special Relativity) was first mentioned a hundred years ago. VOADS specifically borrows heavily from TFW's first campaign. The conflict between the humans and tarsians is strikingly similar to the conflict between the humans and taurians (very similar name) in TFW, the seemingly soulless UN military machine and conscription (or recruitment) of high IQ elite recruits has the same feel, and they both have the same basic events: conscription, training, sci- fi-magic-jump, invasion of an alien world, and a psychic link with an alien prior to going on a killing spree.

The two are very different in purpose, though. When stripped of all its science fiction elements, The Forever War was a condemnation of not only the Vietnam War, but the way America treated its returning veterans. Time dilation was useful to further estrange the hero from human society, which progresses to the point that he cannot reintegrate when he is in a form of stasis. It is a long and painful divorce from earth.

In contrast, Voices of a Distant Star is the story of two eternally faithful lovers that are tragically separated. Time dilation doesn't work in this setting, as it would permanently separate the lovers and ruin the plot. Instead, the lovers are separated by distance (and the extended time of the campaign) and the time lag is due to the time it takes for light to travel from point A to Point B.

Did I Miss The Whole Point of the AMV, as a Certain Other Review Implies?
As he said, the main focus is the sad separation of two lovers. Should I solely focus on that obvious aspect to the exclusion of all other things? No.

Makoto Shinai obviously put a lot of thought into this piece. Out of respect for that, it is only right to explore his symbolism and references to Japanese mythology in a review... Not doing so would be like reviewing the Matrix without mentioning that it is simultaneously Genesis and the New Testament, making it surprisingly morally ambiguous.Petty Criticisms
This is not to say that VOADS doesn't have flaws. I am not one for weepy love stories and it requires serious suspension of disbelief that both parties didn't move on, but I can deal with it for 24 minutes. I give it a 5 for its novelty and its radical departure from the beaten path. NP7UBAVKFPX

As always, feel free to write on my comment wall if you disagree with what I've written.

Honestly, I feel most people will miss the point of this. This is a short film. And the mecha is not the focus at all. I believe the artist's goal was to create a beautifully tragic love story. I can't even put into words what I mean. This is not about plot, or mechas, or aliens. Its about distance, love, regret, unknowing, knowing, waiting, letting go, and not letting go...

A love story take place in the future during war time between humans and aliens. The girl leave to fight the war in space while the guy stayed behind and wait for her to come back. They would send txt msgs , but every time she goes farther into space, the long the msgs will take to get back to earth. On the last msg

...

Even tho it's a very short story, it will make you cry! A must watch!

Spoiler Alert! Click to show or hide

A love story take place in the future during war time between humans and aliens. The girl leave to fight the war in space while the guy stayed behind and wait for her to come back. They would send txt msgs , but every time she goes farther into space, the long the msgs will take to get back to earth. On the last msg she sent to him was to wish him a happy birthday before she became a casualty of war.

While perhaps his weakest movie, that is in no way degrading to this movie. It is simply a testament to how incredible his other works are. Voices of A Distant Star is a story of love and loss and is beautiful in every way. The relationships are real and heart-wrenching.

The year is 2046. Extraterrestrials known as Tarsians have attacked Earth’s outposts on Mars, and the United Nations are sending interstellar troops to fight them. On Earth, two middle schoolers, Nagamine Mikako and Terao Noboru, find themselves growing emotionally attached to each other, and when Mikako’s good grades and ...

Reviewed: January 2014Version: English sub/English dub

The year is 2046. Extraterrestrials known as Tarsians have attacked Earth’s outposts on Mars, and the United Nations are sending interstellar troops to fight them. On Earth, two middle schoolers, Nagamine Mikako and Terao Noboru, find themselves growing emotionally attached to each other, and when Mikako’s good grades and athletic abilities make her a candidate for the UN mission, the two young, star-crossed lovers find themselves increasingly separated by time and distance as the space fleet travels ever farther from Earth in pursuit of the alien attackers. Only by e-mail can they communicate, their messages limited by the speed of light.

The 2002 featurette Hoshi no Koe was Shinkai Makoto’s third anime, his first in color and also his first of a length of more than a few minutes. Objectively, it’s not the best short anime film, nor is it his best work...but considering the fact that it was his most ambitious creation to that point, and that he produced it all by himself on a laptop computer, it’s really rather outstanding, and it certainly was the piece that brought him worldwide recognition as what some are hailing as “the next Miyazaki”. Certainly it has its flaws, and it is the subject of many mixed feelings both among Shinkai fans and among those outside the circle of fandom.

The plot itself is the subject of some of this debate. Middle school students separated by light-years, pining for each other’s love? Well, the fact that a middle schooler was chosen as a soldier in an elite space combat force is rather ridiculous—Shinkai even has Noboru state, somewhat ironically, within the film that “it seems, somehow, kind of like a stupid story”—but placing teenagers in adult situations is nothing new in anime now and it wasn’t then, so, objectively, it makes little sense, but within the context of the genre, it’s acceptable—and remember, even though neither of them was selected for space training, Romeo and Juliet were about the same age as Noboru and Mikako, and audiences accept their emotional struggles as genuine, so any complaints about them being annoying, naïve, sentimental, young brats must also be applied to Shakespeare’s characters—but that too is acceptable because it’s real; aren’t many teens, just learning to deal with romantic feelings, often exactly like that? It doesn’t lessen the meaningfulness. A third point of contention within the plot is the use of cell-phone emails (not SMS messages, or texting, as many reviewers assume; Japan is a bit different in that regard) to maintain their communication over the years as the ships move away from Earth. I thought it was a bit silly myself at first, but then I thought about it. Look how pervasive handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets have become in our own society; in 2046, why wouldn’t a crew member’s device link to the ship’s central computer to send and receive personal communications both within the ship and without? The fact that it’s an early-2000’s-style feature phone is a bit much to bear considering all the advances we’ve made just in the last decade, but at the time, such devices were even more pervasive in Japan than they were in the West, and this is before Android and iOS and all the rest, so Shinkai can be forgiven for using a piece of technology that would soon become outdated but had such symbolic meaning.

Some reviewers criticize the animation quality as being poor or substandard, and certainly the character art is generic and rough, and the backgrounds are not as crisp or as richly detailed as in Shinkai’s later work, but considering that I’ve seen various levels of worse art and animation coming out of studios with full production teams and facilities, and that this was the work of a relative newcomer with only his own skills and a laptop, the art and animation quality can’t possibly deserve the low scores some give it. In places, the scenery is quite eye-catching, and it’s always detailed and realistic, with fluid animation. Along with this, some dislike the score, which I can only say must be a matter of personal opinion; I for one found Tenmon’s music, as always, rich and evocative despite its often-subdued manner and seeing simplicity. In the same vein, some criticize the English dub as being of poor quality, and with this I must agree. Taken in isolation, it's not particularly horrible, but when compared to the original, it's a travesty; a good portion of the narration and dialogue is translated imprecisely, changing not so much the storyline but definitely the characters—and where Shinkai made good use of succinct speech and stretches of silence, the dub will overlay much of that silence with rambling sentences that destroy the effect Shinkai was going for; moreover, the voice actors just don't seem to fit well with the characters as presented. I wouldn't recommend watching the dubbed version at all.

At its heart, Hoshi no Koe is a poignant romantic tale, even if it does seem a bit unbelievable in places and even if it isn’t up to the standards that Shinkai later developed for himself. In it you can see Shinkai’s distinctive style in its early stages; it may not be a great film, but it showcases elements of greatness, and at the time it was released, it made obvious that Shinkai was a talent to be watched. It promised better things to come, and that was a promise Shinkai would deliver on. Overall, Hoshi no Koe, despite any flaws it may have, is certainly an original sort of twist on a classic storyline, and it is well worth watching at least once—and it has been known to bring some viewers to tears.

The breakdown

Story: 6

The idea of a middle-school-aged space-mecha warrior is a bit far-fetched, but at its heart, this is a tale of lovers torn apart from each other, and it's filled with emotional depth packed into a concise storyline that many others would take a full feature-length film or even dozens of episodes to get across. It borders on the melodramatic at times, but in it we can see Shinkai’s storytelling skill taking shape.

Character: 6 (sub), 5 (dub)

The characters of Mikako and Noboru aren’t fully fleshed out. We know only that Mikako excels in both academics and athletics, and we know even less of Noboru. They’re basically stock young-adult romance leads, but at least the audience can sympathize with them. There were two Japanese-dub versions produced: the original production with Shinkai himself and his fiancée performing the roles of the lead characters, and the official release with professional voice actors. The pros do a good job of endowing these otherwise flat characters with life; I’m not sure if the original was just as good, or even if it’s available to find out. I do know that in the English dub, the voice actors didn't do as good a job as the original actors and their personalities weren't as enjoyable.

Art: 7

As mentioned, the art is rough in places, but it’s often beautiful, as most of Shinkai’s work is. The animation is fluid, with few flaws. The CGI is well done but a little too much in some places, just not meshing well with the 2D of the rest of the film.

Sound: 7 (sub), 6 (dub)

Tenmon’s score is, as always, a beautiful addition, suited to the story, and sound effects, as usual in Shinkai’s work, are used to maximum effect. Unfortunately, this doesn't come through quite as well in the English dub.

Enjoyment: 6

Of all of Shinkai’s works, I found Hoshi no Koe to be the least enjoyable, and yet it’s still something I could watch more than once—though not very often, to be sure. For me, it’s more enjoyable after the first viewing; knowing what the flaws are makes them less distracting.

Overall: 6.4 (sub), 6.0 (dub)Final Score: 6/10 or 3/5Grade: B–

Rating: PG

With its focus on romance without sexuality and war without gory violence, I feel that Hoshi no Koe should be suitable for most children 10 and up.

Language/Thematic Elements: Romance, romance, romance...and battle—that’s what this film is about. Also, penetrating loneliness, which is what Shinkai does best. The language and thematic elements are appropriate to its middle-school-aged characters and to audiences of the same age, although in the dubbed version, some mildly crude language has been inserted.

Violence/Gore: There’s some space battling to be found in the film, but it’s not overly graphic or gory, and based on reviews, there’s even some disagreement as to whether the death scenes are large space-based organisms being killed or simply organic-looking ships being blown up—though they certainly look like organisms, complete with blood, to me.

Sexuality/Nudity: The only hint of sexuality are the lead characters’ budding romantic feelings for each other; there are no explicit references to sex, nor is there nudity.

Final words

+: classic storyline with an original twist, beautiful art and soundtrack

–: somewhat unbelievable plot points, rough art style especially for the characters, CGI that sometimes just doesn’t work with the rest of the film, badly dubbed English version

About the Show

It is 2046 when a mysterious alien force begins their annihilation of the human race. Leaving behind the one person she loves, Mikako joins
It is 2046 when a mysterious alien force begins their annihilation of the human race. Leaving behind the one person she loves, Mikako joins the interstellar battle as a pilot. And so - while Mikako risks her life to save mankind - Noboru waits. At first days, then months, then years for each new message that will let him know whether Mikako is still alive. And, while she barely grows older in the timelessness of space, Noboru ages. The two lovers, worlds apart, desperately strive to remain connected as the gap between them widens at a frightening pace. ...more